I went to a 1.6qt ratio back in 2008 since it fits in well with my batch-sparging system. Noticed the brews ended up fermenting and tasting better with a more pleasing and thinner mouthfeel in the finished product.

Average efficiency went up a couple points too.

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The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

I use whatever I can get away with, depending on how big grain bill is. 1.75/qt. to pound is sure nice to stir, but some times it's 1.1 I really haven't seen a difference in the final product. To each their own.

I've heard that using a thinner mash benefits lighter lagers in that you don't have to sparge as much and thus minimize extraction of tannins. (Although that only works if fly sparging.) Anyone have any experience here?